Overall sentiment in the reviews is mixed and somewhat polarized: many reviewers praise the direct care staff and the facility's warm, welcoming atmosphere, while others report serious concerns around food, medication management, safety, staffing levels, and administration. Positive comments frequently highlight the frontline caregivers — CNAs and nurses — as compassionate, skilled and attentive in many cases. Several reviews specifically call out outstanding CNAs and compassionate end-of-life care, along with an on-site pastor and ministry-like support. Multiple reviewers report successful short-term rehab outcomes, such as a wheelchair patient regaining walking ability. The facility is also described by some as clean, nicely decorated, spacious, with lots of windows and pleasant outdoor views, and easy to access with convenient parking.
However, a number of reviews point to significant negative issues that prospective residents and families should consider. Dining receives highly divergent feedback: some say the food is very good and in-room dining is available, while others describe questionable food quality, very limited options (frequent pasta lunches; soups and canned fruit for supper), no ability to substitute items, and reports of residents suffering from lack of food. Medication management and clinical responsiveness are recurrent concerns — reviewers mention missed or late medications, delayed pain medication, and routine use of melatonin at night that some viewed as unnecessary. There are also reports of safety incidents, including a serious fall resulting in arm injuries and a staff-related slip causing a back bruise, which raise red flags about supervision, fall prevention, and staff training or attentiveness.
Facility condition and room arrangements are inconsistent in the reviews. Some describe a beautiful, newly updated building and spotlessly clean areas, while others mention old, banged-up furniture and an older building feel. Several reviewers note shared rooms and shared bathrooms, which may be a significant factor for those seeking private accommodations. Staffing levels and competence are additional mixed themes: while many staff are called friendly and accommodating, other reviews report absent-minded or unknowledgeable staff and not enough staff on duty. A few posts state that when issues are raised they are addressed promptly and undesired staff are replaced, indicating some responsiveness from management in certain instances; yet other reviews accuse the administration and some nurses of deceitful behavior and explicitly say they would not recommend the facility.
Activities and community life receive generally positive notes: frequent entertainment, arts and crafts, movies, and singing (with specific staff mentioned, e.g., Janet) contribute to a friendly, open atmosphere. The presence of pastoral care and ministry-like support is emphasized by several reviewers as a meaningful benefit. Cost is another frequent concern: several reviewers call the prices high or outrageous, which, combined with the mixed reports on care quality and amenities, suggests families should carefully weigh value.
In summary, Hastings Senior Health & Living Health Care Center appears to have clear strengths in direct caregiving (many reports of excellent CNAs and nurses, compassionate EOL care, successful rehab, and a warm community environment) and in some well-maintained, attractive spaces. At the same time, consistent negative themes — limited and low-quality dining options for some residents, medication and pain management failures, safety incidents, staffing shortages, mixed facility conditions, shared rooms/bathrooms, and administrative concerns — are significant and recurring. Prospective residents and families should balance the facility's strong interpersonal and spiritual supports against these operational and safety concerns: visit during meal times, ask about medication administration protocols and staffing ratios, tour both the specific rooms available (to confirm private vs shared accommodations and furniture condition), and inquire about fall-prevention measures and incident histories before making a decision.
